Aerial torpedo or mine



M. WILDRICK.

AERIAL TORPEDO 0R MINE. APPLICATION mm JAN-27.1911.

Patented July 29, 1919.

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

MEADE WHIDRICK, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO OSCAR I. STRAUIB, 0F FORT HOWARD, MARYLAND.

AERIAL TORPEDO 0R MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed January 27, 1917. Serial No. 144,965.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MEADE WILDRIGK, of

the United States Army, a citizen of the United States, stationed at Fort Monroe, in the county of Elizabeth City and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedoes or paratively large charge of high explosive,

and which may be safely transported either byrail, boat or aircraft, and in which safety in handling, or more especially in launching, is secured.

According to my invention the projectile is intended to be exploded by impact when it strikes the deck of a ship or any solid target aimed at, and which is also exploded, after striking the water, at a predetermined depth It is well known that the danger zone of a torpedo or mine of the character described varies within certain limits with the-depth of the explosion below the surface of the water, and the Volume of and nature of the explosive used; andthat for heavy plated ships, such as battle-ships, this danger zone may be extended twenty yards more or less from the skin of the ship, while for lighter craft, such as torpedo boat destroyers or submarines, the danger zone under similar conditions may extend as much as fifty yards more or less from the skin of the ship, therefore having a sufiicient charge of high explosive and detonating same at a proper distance below the surface of the water, any great accuracy in dropping a torpedo may be dispensed with, and the torpedo will be efiicacious if it strikes either the vessel aimed at or within a reasonable distance of the same.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which: 4

Figure 1 showsdiagrammatically the torpedo being dropped from an aeroplane, and falling in the water between a battleship and a submarine.

Fig 2 is a diagram showing a plan View of the deck of a vessel and the surrounding danger zone.

Fig. 3 shows, on a larger scale, the complete aerial torpedo, parts being shown in section, and the firing device being shown in the safety position.

Fig.4 is a similar View of the base of the torpedo showing the parts in position for either electric or impact firing.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but

shows a modified form of torpedo; and

Fig. 6 shows a section through the propellet shaftalong the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

looking down.

Referring first to Figs. land 2, A represents the aeroplane from which the torpedo B is dropped; This torpedo is shown in Fig. 1 as falling into the water between the battle-ship C and the submarine D, the torpedo, as shown, being on a larger scale than the aeroplane, battle-ship andsubmarine.

If the torpedo B, shown in Fig.2, strikes the deck of the battle-ship, it will explode, as will be hereinafter described;-but if the torpedo B, shown in Fig. 2, is exploded at the desired depth beneath the water, 1t Wlll also insure the destruction of the ship, as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the details of construction of the torpedo, and the means for detonating the explosive contained therein, and with special reference to Figs. 3 and 4, represents the shell of the torpedo havmg a large chamber 2 therein filled with high exthe shell as at 6, and is provided with a hydrostat chamber 7, in which is mounted the head 8 and spring 9. .The head 8 1s provided with a conducting stem 10, which 1s connected by the conductor 11 to one terminal of the source of electricity E. The

other terminal of the source of electricity is connected by the conductor 12 to the electric primer 13 embedded in the explosive charge, and the other terminal of thls prlmer 1s connected to one of the contact pieces 16, carried by the insulating head 14, which head also carries the percussion primer 15.

The plunger 17 having the point 18 and collar 19, is normally held in the safety position, shown in Fig. 3, by means of the centrifugal gripping arms 20, carried on the shaft 21, which shaft is rotated by the pro peller 22, attached to the shaft 21 by means of the pin 23. For the normal or safety position, shown in Fig. 3, this plunger is held in the raised position; but when the projectile is dropped and the propeller speeds up under the pressure of the air, the weighted arms will fly outward under -the action of centrifugal force, and allow the projectile strikes the water, in which case'the projectile will travel down through the Water until the hydrostatic pressure on the head 8 will force in the plunger 10, completing the electric circuit, from the source of electricity E through the plunger, and igniting the electric primer 13, thus exploding the torpedo.

By adjusting the hydrostat to the desired pressure, the depth to which the torpedo will descend through the water before firing, may be regulated.

As a source of electricity one or more dry cells may be used.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the insulating head 14 carries a contact piece 31, which is connected to the electric primer 13 embedded in the explosive 3,

and the other terminal of this electric primer is connected to one pole of the dynamo 32, the other pole of said dynamo being connected to the stem 10 of the hydrostat. The armature of this dynamo is connected to the fly wheel 33, which is connected to the shaft 34, carrying the propeller 35. This propeller is secured to the shaft 34 by the pin 36, and I have shown the fly wheel connected to the shaft 34 by means of the spring-impressed ratchets 37, shown in Fig. 6.

After the projectile has been launched the propeller isrotated by the action of the air, and rotates the shaft 34 and fly wheel 33, thus generating electricity in the dynamo 32. 1

If the projectile strikes in the water, as soon as it becomes immersed there will be a backward drag on the propeller and the fly wheel will continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow, shownin Fig. 6, thus continuing the generation of electricity until the desired depth is reached when the stem 10 of the hydrostat will maize contact with the contact piece 31 and will complete the electric circuit, and fire the electric primer.

Should the projectile strike a solid target, such as the deck of a ship, the plunger 40 will explode the primer 41. This plunger is normally held in place by the split ring 42; but to prevent any accident from premature explosion, I provide a locking pin 43, which should be removed before the projectile is launched.

Instead of having the propeller shaft connected to the fly wheel by the spring ratchet arrangement shown in Fig. 6, it is obvious that the fly wheel might be rigidly secured to the propeller shaft, and the pin 36 may be made of such material, or brittleness, as to be sheered off when the propeller strikes the water, thus permitting the propeller to slip off the end of the propeller shaft while the fly wheel and armature of the generator continue to revolve.

It will be noted that in both forms of the device the electric firing is not effected until the predetermined depth is reached; but with the percussion attachment, firing is had upon the impact of the projectile with the solid target.

It will thus be seen that I- provide an aerial torpedo which can be safely handled and transported, and yet which will operate on impact with a solid target, or which will descend through the water to a desired depth and then will be automatically exploded.

While I have shown .two forms of devices, both controlled by the hydrostat, for completing the electric circuit through the electric primer when the torpedo reaches the predetermined depth below the water, it will be obvious that various other forms to accomplish a similar result might be used without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limit myself to any details of construction, or to any combination and arrangement of parts, except as set out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a projectile adapted to be dropped from aircraft, the combination with a shell containing high explosive, of means for exploding said high explosive when the movement of said shell is suddenly arrested, c'omprising a percussion primer, a plunger, and means for normally holding said plunger in the safety position, and for automatically releasing same after the projectile has traveled part of its flight through the air, with an electric primer, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit for exploding said high explosive by electricity, all contained in said shell, the said electric circuit including resilient contact strips adapted to yieldingly support said plunger above said primer when released, but to permit said plunger to strike said primer when the movement of the projectile is suddenly arrested, the said plunger also forming electrical connection between said contact strips,

the safety position, and for automatically releasing same after the projectile has traveled part of its flight through the air, with an electric primer,-a source of electricity and an electric circuit for exploding said high explosive by electricity, all contained in said shell, the said electric circuit includ- .ing resilient contactstrips adapted to yield- 1ngly support said plunger above said primer when released, but to permit said plunger to strike said primer when the movement of the projectile is suddenly arrested, the said plunger also forming electrical connection between said contact strips, and a hydrostat automatically controlled by the pressure of the water for closing said electric circuit when the projectile reaches a predetermined depth in the Water, substantially as described. I

3. In a projectile adapted to be dropped from aircraft, the combination With a shell containing high explosive, ,of means for exploding said high explosive when the movement of said shell is suddenly arrested, comprising a percussion primer, a plunger, and means for normally holding said plunger in the safety position, and for automatically releasing same after the projectile has traveled part of its flight through the air, comprising a spindle journaled in the base of the projectile, a propeller connected to said spindle for rotating same under the pressure ofthe air, and means oarriedby said spindle normally holding said plunger in place but automatically rel-easing same-when the spindle is rapidly rotated, with an electric primer, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit for exploding said high explosive by electricity, all contained in said shell, and means automatically controlled by the pressure of :the water for closing said electric circuit when the projectile reaches a predetermined depth in the water, substantially as described.

l. In a projectile adapted to be dropped from aircraft, the combination With a shell containing high explosive, of means for eX-- ploding said high explosive when the movement of said shell is suddenly arrested, comprising a percussion primer, a plunger, and means for normally holding said plunger in the safety position, andfor automatically releasing same after the projectile has traveled part of its flight through the air, comprising a spindle journaled in the base of the projectile, a propeller connected to sald spindle for rotating same under the pressure of the air, and means carried by sa d spindle normally holding said plunger 1n place but automatically releasingsame when the spindle is rapidly rotated, with an electric P1111181, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit for exploding said high e X- plosive'b'y electricity, all contained in sald shell, and a hydrostat automatically controlled by the pressure of the water for closing said electric circuit when the projectile reaches a predetermined depth in the Water, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my slgnature.

MEADE WILDRICK. 

